Log bucking chute



-- Aug. 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT ET A1. 2,563,867

LOG BUCKING CHUTE Aug. 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT l-:T AL

LOG BUCKNG CHUTE Filed Dec. 4, 1945 A frog/Vey W. H. RATHERT ET AL LOG BUCKNG CHUTE Aug. v14, 1951 2,563,867

Filed Dec. 4, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m' irnnlli i 905 L/07 mlm Il 'ITI A TTOQNEY Allg 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT ET A1. 2,563,867

LOG BUCKING CHUTE Filed Deo. 4, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug- 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT ET Al. 2,563,867

4 LOG BUCKNG CHUTE Filed Deo. 4, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 f/v VEN Top5 f A rroQA/E y Aug, 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT ET AL 2,563,367

LOG BUCKING CHUTE Filed Dec. 4, 1945 8 Shets-Sheet 6 54! A l 5y A TTOQNEV Aug- 14, 1951 w. H. RATHERT ETAL 2,563,857

LOG BUCKNG CHUTE Filed Deo. 4, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 14, 1951 Filed DeO. 4, 1945 w. H. RATHERT ET AL 2,563,867

LOG BUCKING CHUTE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 "uw ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOG BUCKING CHUTE Minnesota Application December 4, 1945, serial No. 632,624

. 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a method of logging, and has particular reference to a novel log bucking chute forv sawing tree length logs into merchantable lengths in carrying out certain steps of the method.

' In logging heavy timber such as Douglas r, ponderosa pine, and the like, it has heretofore been the general practice in commercial logging operations to trim the branches from felled trees and mark and saw each tree into the desired log lengths on the spot Where the tree was felled. The sawed logs are then transported by one means or another through the forest to one or more loading points for some established transportation system such as a railroad, truck road, river or the -like to carry the logs to a saw mill. As the logging operations progress'farther into the forest such transportation facilities must be extended to provide loading stations within convenient reach of all merchantable trees in the area being logged. Ordinarily, a number of felling and bucking crews are employed in various regions of the area to fell trees and saw them into log lengths in sufficient quantity to provide the desired rate of production.

The logs are marked for the bucking crews by a sealer whose duty it is to determine'the measure of the various lengths to be cut out of a tree to incur the least waste and to best fill the order on hand. Different kinds and grades of lumber are ordinarily sold in different standard lengths, and certain trees are suitable for one kind of lumber and 'not for another, depending upon their height up to the lowermost branch, the size and number of the branches in the upper part of the tree, the diameter of the trunk, the straightness and condition of the trunk in general, and numerous other variables. The length of the log indicates to the mill the kind of lumber to be cut from it. A sealer is a man of long experience in the industry Who can judge all these variables at a glance and so mark the felled tree that it Will furnish a miximum amount of lumberv and a minimum amount of waste. It is apparent, then, that a sealer has considerable leewayin marking the trees to fill a particular order for lumber. If some of the felled trees are not exactly suitable to ll the immediate requirements, the scaler must decide whether to mark them for the maximum lumber yield regardless of whether the resulting lumber may be desired at the moment, or to mark them primarily to give the desired kind of lumber immediately, making Waste a secondary consideration. In the course of a days operation, an

'be made therefor.

2 experienced Scaler can succeed in utilizing the timber to the best advantage with very little waste, particularly if the lumber requirements are somewhat varied. As the operation proceeds, the scalers tally will indicate how the demand .for different kinds and grades of lumber is being filled; and he can mark the remaining trees accordingly so that when the total number of board feet have been cut the required amount of each kind of lumber will be supplied. The above procedure is a routine matter for an experienced sealer, and illustrates the mannerin which logging operations are carried out in the forest to prevent waste.

One difliculty in this system, however, is that in most logging operations the area being logged atone time is too large for one scaler to cover. Several scalers are usually employed, each working with one or more felling and bucking crews in a particular locality. Inasmuch as log scaling is based upon the scalers.r judgement acquired from his own personal experience, there is no consistent uniformityv between the methods and results of different scalers, Each may be highly competent as an individual, but the combined results of their efforts when they are Working far apart in the forest may be less satisfactory.

`Because of the personal equation andV lack of satisfactory coordination' between the different scalers, production of certain kindsy of lumber may become unbalanced, with an excess of one kind or grade, and a deficiency in another.

Marking of the log lengths and sawing in the woods where the tree falls necessarily entails a certain amount of waste and allowance must The presence of underbrush and other obstructions makes it impossible to 'measure off the log vlengths accurately, and so EXCESS Atally and possibly resulting in a considerable waste at the end of the tree. This situation is particularly troublesome in yrough and brushy terrain where the bucking crews have many natural obstacles to overcome in their work.

The result is that many logs arrive at the mill in lengths different than intended by the sealer. with probably an excess of; the longer lengths.

If a log arrives at the mill two feet longer thanr intended by the scaler, it may be cut into an entirely diierentclass or grade of lumber thanl that which ordinarily is out from a log of the length markedibythe Scaler. v f

The objectV of the present invention is to=prof vide a novel method of logging, and power operated apparatus for carrying out certain steps offl the method, to substantially eliminate the abovev diiiculties and shortcomings in conventional'v logging operations, and to expedite .the operation: A particular objectof theV present:

in general. invention is to provide a method and' apparatusfor handling tree length l'ogsat a;r loading sta"r tion or other point of collectionL wherethe pro'- duction of the whole area is concentrated for buckling into rnerchanta'bl'e:A lengths under immediate supervision of a single sealer.

-In practicing the method of the presentinveirtion the only attention given to the trees where collection, preferably on an established trans-1 p ortati'ony system, `more or less centrally located in the area being` logged. At thispoint of-- col'- lec'tion ali logs'in the-'area' are under the-personal supervision of a single'sicalerwho-V marks them 'for' sawing into the desired log lengths. Novel equipment is provided 'for 'sawingthe'log's eX- actly at the places markedfby'the sealer so that his tally' constitutes an.. accurate record of the days. production sent' to` the mill. Iny this Way the scalingv can be done most eicientlyl and without inconsistencies inthe work of dilierent scalers. The management of the logging opera.- tion can also constantly observe what kind of timber is being brougl'tin and' how` itV is being cut, so..as.to beconstantl'y apprised as. to the ef'- cency'of.y the operatbnsand. as toq variation in the Vtimber encounteredy from region to region.

Another object. of thepresent invention, as lalready mentioned,. i's. to .provide novel mechanical equipment forhandling. and sawing the logs ratthepoint of collection. Such. equipment com- V`prisesrwhat. is herein termed a log bucking chute equipped. with Winches and. pull-in lines or. cables `for rolling largetreeelength logs. into a conveyor trough@ or chute for endwise vmovement to se-V .'sawed logs clear of thefsaw mechanism. A

ipower' operated ejector is'l 'provided inthis part of thechute .for rolling'.A the Vsawed logs down' where they maybe picked up for loading.

'The method and' apparatus of the invention V'a'refbes'tunderstcod' with reference. to the accomip'anyingdrawings showing a preferred embodil-mentloi bucking chute.. lbodiment is described in'. accordance with the `This particular ernpatent statutes for the purpose of illustrating. a preferred manner of practicing the invention `and? not. for thepurpose of. limiting the invention.- -Various changes in ythe construction and -ooliiloinationl of' parts will occur to those skilled in the art, andan-such.modicationsare ineluded in the invention, the same being limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the use of the present` log bucking chutein-.carry-ing out the method. of"A the invention;

Figure 1a is a side elevation view of the bucking chute shown in Figure 1;

AIiigureZ is an enlarged plan View of the left endL ofthe log bucking chute as viewed in Figure L;

Figure. 3 is anzvelevation view of the portion of the chutefshowlr in Figure 2;

FigureA is 1an enlarged plan view of the right` end'ofzthelogib-ucking chute shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5i is anV elevation view of the portion of thechuteshowm in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view, drawn on a stillv larger scale, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, and showing the idler pulley for the receivingconveyor;

Figure 'Lisa` sectional .view oftheidler pulley shawn in Figure. 6*,` taken: onrtheline. 1:--1 of E'igule 2;;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional-.view showing the driving sprocket. for the: receiving; conveyor, .taken onzthe'line 8;--8 of Figure .4;

Figure 9` isla fragmentary p1an.view showing thev driving.4 sprocket for. the: receiving conveyor;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the driving sprocket, taken-y onv the line llli ein Figurev 9;

Figure 11. is ai cross sectiouaL view taken on. the line. lfl-.l [for Figure 2', showingione. of .the rollein lines ,and Winches operation;

Figure,- 12,I is an; elevational view-.ozthe roll-in line; and: winch: mechanism shown. Yin Eig-ure l1;

vFigurel-S is a` cross sectional. view taken on the-.line l3l-.3 OFigure'Igv showing. thebucking n .sawand .hydraulicjack. mechanism;

.Figure 14:15 a sectionaliview through the jack,

.takenonr vthe linel lad- I 41 otzliigure. 13.5;

Figure 15.- is a. crosssectionalview taken. on .the line IIL-t5@ of Fig-vrai. showing the log leecting: mechanism the.t receiving, trough;l

Figure llei is a. .fragmentary elevational., Viewv of the logV eiectingf-mechanism. show-r1. in. Figure 15; fand Figure 117 is a. fragmentary( sectional View correspondingto. Figure 15, but;y showing the ejecting mechanism.Y in retracted position..

Figure 1v shows in planview the general arnangementiof. theflog bucking chute and the piles `of. `sawed and unsawed logsirr carrying vout the ymethod of the invention. The numeral H) indi.- cartes-1a pile-ot tree .length logsassembled` atfa point of collection. for scaling and. sawing into commerciallengths Vfor.A transportation to. a saw mill. These logs have: beenbrou'ght to this centrai point of collection.'gironi various places in a;surrcunning'area .wheretree felling opera-tions :are in. progress.. vEach of" the logstrepresents a yconfrplete tree except for the: branches and'. tops which. have beenftrimmedoff:where the' tree was -felled. .Inassembling the logs-atthee point. of colf lecti'onthe butt endsli and rtop-'ends l2 may be .at either'endoffthe pi1e,.:as'viewed in. Figure 1.

.Thel practice of thepresentmethod of logging is made commercially practicable and advantageous Aby the use of thenovel log bucking chute herein- .assembled preferably on gently sloping' ground on the down-hill side of the log pile I0. A level spot is scraped off the ground for assembling the various sections of the chute, so that the top of the chute is on a level only slightly above the bottom of the log pile I6. Ramps I8 are then extended laterally from the chute in the direction of the log pile, I0, and a pair of roll-in lines are provided for rolling logs one at a time up the ramp and into the chute.

In assembling the chute for operation, the sections I4 to I1 are brought together in end to end relation to provide a receiving trough 20 having a conveyor 2| extending throughout the length of the sections I4, I and I6 and terminating in the leftend of section I1 at a log bucking saw 22. Thev section I1 also contains a delivery trough 23 having a conveyor 24 and ejecting mechanism, which will presently be described, for ejecting sawed logs down an inclined apron 25. The numeral 26 designates a sawed log which has just been ejected from the delivery chute 23 `and which has rolled down to a convenient loading position alongside a logging railroad 21. As subsequent sawed logs are ejected they will form, with the log 26, a pile from Which they may be picked up conveniently and loaded on a logging train for transportation to a saw mill.

The arrangement of the logs in the pile I0 at the point of collection causes each log to be disposed in the receiving trough 26 for convenient scaling and marking. Controls for the operation of the two conveyors, the saw and the ejecting mechanism are preferably located adjacent the saw to enable the sawyer to control most of the handling and sawing operations. These various mechanisms and the arrangement of the roll-in lines and Winches will be described in detail as the description proceeds in connection with the showing of these details in the various figures of the drawings.

Figures 2 and 3 show in enlarged plan and elevation views the idler sprocket and length ad justments for the conveyor 2| and one of the roll-in Winches, mounted on the end section I4. The other end of the bucking chute comprising the saw 22, delivery conveyor 24, and the log ejecting mechanism, all mounted in the section I1, is 'shown on enlarged plan and side elevation views in Figures 4 and 5. The joints between the sections I4, I5, I6 and I1 are designated by the numerals 3|, 32 and 33.

Reference is. now made to Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7 showing the general construction of the portable sections and the idler end of the conveyor in section I4 in particular. Each of the portable sections of the chute comprises a timber framework carried by a pair of heavy skids 34 whereby these sections may be individually dragged or hauled through the forest in order to assemble the bucking chute complete at some central 1ocation Within the timber cutting area. Interconnecting the skids 34 at intervals are cross members 35 supporting a pair of longitudinal timbers 36 and rails 31. The timbers 36 and additional longitudinal members 38 support a framework carrying a chute or trough section which is metal lined and arcuate in cross section as shown in Figure 6' to support a log therein. There is a longitudinal slot at the bottom of the trough for the conveyor chain 2i which has log engaging dogs 4I) attached thereto at spaced intervals. At the end of the conveyor the chain and dogs pass around a grooved idler pulley 4I mounted on a shaft journaled in bearings 42 on a sliding frame 43. y Y the conveyor chain is effected through a pair Length adjustment for of long threaded rods having-nuts 45 which may be tightened to take unnecessary slack out of the chain. In effecting the adjustment the frame 43 slides on a pair of wear plates 46 between a pair of guide channels 41. The rails 31 slidably support the dogs 4D beneath the though on the return reach of the chain. Roll-in Winches and lines will hereinafter be described for rolling logs into the chute from the left side as viewed in Figure 6, and a plurality of upstanding guard posts 48 may be provided to prevent the logs from rolling on out of the chute on the right side.

The driven end of the conveyor is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, embracing sections I6 and I1. The chain is motivated bymeans of a driving sprocket 50 on a shaft 5I mounted in bearings 52 in the section I1 close to the joint 33. A large sprocket wheel 53 on the shaft 5I is rotated by a drive chain '54 extending across the joint 33 to a motor 55 mounted on the section I6. The conveyor chain 2| and the .drive chain 54 are dismounted when the sections I6 and I1 are to be separated.

The previously mentioned conveyor slot in the bottom of the trough 20 is occupied by a conveyor guide 56 having a pair of horizontal shoulders 51 forming sliding surfaces for the dogs 40, and having a central cavity or trough 58 for the chain 2 I, as shown in Figure 8. The dogs 40 are guided and maintained in alignment by u'pstanding flanges 59 having top edges conforming with the contour of the inside of the trough in which the logs slide. The normal direction o'f movement of the conveyor is indicated by the arrows 60 in Figure 9, the chain and dogs leaving the end of the conveyor guide at 6I and passing over the driving sprocket 50 to return beneath the trough on the rails 31 to the idler roller 4I. The motor 55 may be reversible so that a log in the trough may be backed up at any time. Thus, when the device is in operation the tension of the conveyor chain between the end sections I4 and I1 would serve to hold all the sections firmly together without the assistance of any fastening means, but fastening means may be provided at the joints 3I, 32 and 33 if desired.

The previously mentioned roll-in lines for rolling logs from the .pile I0 up the ramp I8 are designated by the numeral 65, and their positions along the chute are shown in Figure 1, one of these lines being in section I 4 and the other being in section I6. The operating mechanisms for the two lines are identical and the one in section I4 will be described with general reference to Figures 2 and 3 and particular reference to Figures 11 and 12. Each of the lines 65 has a free end provided with a quick detachable connection 66 which may be passed over the nearest log in the pile Ill and then returned underneath the 'log and connected with the'rim of the trough as shown in Figure l1. The line is trained over an elevated fair-lead drum 61 mounted between a pair of sturdy stanchions 68 and wrapped on a winch drum-69 driven by a motor 10 through suitable reduction gearing. As the cable 65 winds on the winch 69 the tree length log rolls easily up the ramp I8 and into the conveyor trough as shown with reference to the log I9 in Figure l1 which has just reached the top of the ramp.- The stanchions 6B also serve as back stops to prevent the log from rolling on out of the trough and to assist in aligning it in the trough if it is crooked or twisted. A dual push button control 1I for b othwinches is provided at either one or both ofthe Winches.

7 "Ihe 'aireleadefdrilm 61 receivesthe .line t5 'through .a wide horizontalangle and enables the .line to be vusedior a variety of purposes in straightening out thelog .pile and getting the .iQgs into thechute. .By rubbing the .line on one of the stanchions it may even be used -to exert a pull lengthwiseof the trough, if necessary. an occasional crooked log, or a log with stubs of branches remaining thereon, which does nothave sufiicient. tractive bearing upon .the dogs Ahmey'be assisted along the troughby one of fthe linesii into position. for the. nrst cut. Usually after the first cut any log which is straight .enough to. be Vmerchantable will fall into ythe Vtrough to beengaged .and moved by the dogs 40. .A scale 12 is .preferably provided along the edge ofthe trough. forconvenience in measuring and -marking the log, and a platform may be added :it thetlzough is inconveniently nigh above the ground behind the Winches. `and their controls.

The. logs. are .sawed bya saw 22 of novel construction mounted. between the receiving conveyor 2|l and the delivery conveyorV 24 as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 13. The saW 22 comprises a 'chain saw piyotally mounted. at. l5 concentric with the shaftzof a `driving motor 16 which is mounted on a. vertically sldable. plate 1l. The plate l1. slides in. a lvertical track; I8v attached-.to upright posts on the sectionll.. Slider plate 'f1 Vmay-be raised and lowered at. will by means of; an endless chain. 8.0, driven. by a motor 8| Vtorock the saw in sawing a large log. The free end of thesaw is equipped with a. handle 8.2. Adjacent .the-saw' .are start and `stop push button controls. for the. motor 16 and start, stop and reverse controls for the motor 85|.. The handle end of the sawv is Vsupported by a, counterweight cable 83. passingv over pulleys and attachedto a balancing weightwithin a tubularV guide member 84. A pair ofy upright. posts 8.5 on each. side of the saw -serve .to support the counterweight mechanism and also. to mount a plurality of push button controls .06. and 81 for the various power operated mechanisms. vThe numeral 8.0 'designates a platform for the sawY operator.

To facilitatethesawing operation and prevent pinching, a hydraulic jack 90 is mounted directly beneath thesaw to raise a portion of the log ol the bottom of theY troughs and 23; The jack comprises a Ipair of jaw plates 9|v which are retracti'bl'e slightly beneath the bottom of Ythe trough in an opening or gap thereinso as not Vto interfere with the' log when itis-moved along Ithe troughs. Jaw plates 9|' are interconnected by members 02v having a pin connection 93 with the-end of a piston rod 94 extending upwardly from an hydraulic cylinder 05. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder is supported by'a pin confnection 96 on a plate 91 cna transverse timber '08er other convenient structural member. The plate 91 extends beyond the edges of' the cross member 90, and, is provided with slots 99 in these extending portionsfor receiving and guiding the llower ends. of the jaw plates 9|.A A source of hydraulic pressure is connected With the cylinder 9.5 to raise the jaw plates 9| some distance above the. bottom of the chute so as to lift a portion of -a log suflicientlyto tension the wood in the saw cut. The saw Yisgmounted in vertical alignment withgtheaxis of the cylinder 9,5 so that the space between the upper ends of the jaw members 9|. above the members 92 provides clearance for the. saw teeth to make Va clean cut through the log. The jaclijs preferablyactuated by an electricallyA driven hydraulic pump under -2| and bear like `reference numerals.

jthe control. of. one -of thev .push buttonsin the group 81. Y 1 Reference .is made to the copending .application of WalterlH. Rathert .and Charles A. Wilson,

ySerial-No. 632,625, led December 4, 1945, issued .April 17, 1951, as Patent No. 2,549,236, for Log Bucking Saw, relating to the jack and saw operating mechanism. v

After the sawing operation .the sawed logs may be 'moved endwise away from the sawon conveyor '24 for removal fromy the log bucking chute Iby an vthat it is entirely contained within the section l1. The idler pulley,.driving sprocket, andjchain drive .to the motor are allsimilar to the corresponding elements associated with the conveyor When '.a cut loghas been moved by the conveyor 24 sufficiently to clear the posts 05 and the operatorfs platform 08, it is in a position to be ejected from the trough 23 to roll laterally off the sloping apron 25 to a position on the ground near the tracl; 2l, as represented by the log 26 in Figure l. The ejecting action is performed by a plurality of ejector arms or pushers |00 which may be eX- tended into the sideof the trough 23 toY push out a log and then retracted to avoid interference with the movement of the Vnext log on the lconveyor. In the present embodiment there are three pusher arms i530 loosely .pivoted at |i3| on three spaced crank arms |02 on acrankshaft. |03

journaled in the frameworkof the section il. .The

f Figure 1'?.

Means are provided for performing the above described ejecting cycle automatically in response `to a push button starter. Rotation of the shaft |03 is produced by a large sprocket Wheel |06 driven by a chain l0? from'an electric motor |108. Motor operation is initiated by one of the push buttons in the control group El to rotate the shaft |03 from its normal rest position shown in yFigure 17 in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 15 in the course of which movement the pushersr |00 engage a log and move it forcibly out o f the trough in the manner described. A cam orV .pin |09 is attachedto the sprocket wheel |06 in a position to engagea fol'- lowerl I0 in the manner shown in Figure 15 after about degrees rotation from the rest position to operate a reversing switch I I. Thus, in Figure 15', the cam |09 has just operated the switch to reverse the motor. |08, thereby determining the limit of movement of the parts in an ejecting operation. The motor |08 then immediately reverses the rotation of the shaft |03 to withdraw the pushers out of the trough. Another cam or pin ||2 is positioned on the sprocket wheel |06 to engage the follower ||0 in reverse'movement to stop the motor ywhenthe parts have returned to the rest position of Figure 17. The motor circuits are arranged so that the push button starting switch can complete'a motorl circuit. for clockwise rotation when theparts are. in rest/position,

the switch ill operating as a reversing switch when actuated in one direction and as a s opping switch when actuated in the opposite direction. When once started, the motor continues to run until it is reversed by cam Hi8 in the manner described. Thereafter, the motor runs in reverse direction until stopped by cam H2. After stopping, the starting circuit is again effective to function when called upon 1.o repeat the cycle. The various motor circuits may be made directly by the start button and the switch lli, but it preferred to employ heavy dutly relays or contactors to switch the .power circuits so that switch Il l and the push button. switch need carry only a control current for the relay windings. In lieu of the single switch l l l, separate reverso and stop switches may be arranged for actuation by the respective cams 109 and l I2, the switches h aving resilient followers which return to their initial positions after Withdrawal of the cams. Electrical power for the various motors may be supplied by a portable generating plant mounted on skids for transportation along with the bucking chute.

Thus it is seen from the foregoing description that the controls for t .e various operating mechanisms, except the roll-in lines, are centralized at the sawing station as indicated in Figure 5. By means of the push button swich 86 the conveyor 2l may be started, stopped and reversed'to position marked tree length logs accurately under the saw. In moving a log into position for sawing, the conveyor 24 may be operated in conjunction with the conveyor 2| to carry the butt end of the log, the push button switch for the conveyor 24 being contained in the group 81 so that the saw operator standing in line with the saw can control one conveyor with each hand while watching the mark on the-log as it comes under the saw. By means of another switch in the group 81 the hydraulic jack is then caused to raise the log for sawing, after which the .saw is operated to cut a log of the desired length. After the saw cut is completed the jack is lowered and the sawed log length is moved out a short distance on the conveyor 2f. in preparation for ejection by the ejector arms H10. These last three operations, all taking place on the right side of the sawing station as viewed in Figure 5, are controlled by switches in the group 81 likewise on the right side of the sawing siation.

The various machine functions of the log bucking chute are all under the immediate observation of the saw operator, and all these operations except the operation of the Winches 69 are controlled by the saw operator himself. By reason of his elevation abovev the ground level, the saw operator is also in a position to observe the size and condition of logs as they are brought in from the forest, and to supervise the arrangement and manner of piling the logs in the pile l0, if necessary. In carrying out the method with the aid of the present apparatus, there is a continuous ow of tree length logs from various parts of the timber cutting area to the point of collection, and thence up the ramp I8, one log at a time, to the receiving trough Z0. The logs are then moved lengthwise in the receiving trough for sawing, and lengthwise further in the same direction in the delivery trough after sawing, from whence they are moved out of the log bucking chute on the opposite side from which they entered. In this arrangement of the work flow unprocessed material is continually approaching from the front of the saw operator and to his left. thence passing across in front of the operator, and finally moving to his right and passing out in a processed state to his rear for transportation out of the locality. The centralized control of the log bucking operation for a whole logging area in this manner makes for increased eiiciencyv of the logging operation in general, and greatly expedites the bucking operation in particular.

Having now described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a log bucking chute having a conveyor chain therein for moving logs lengthwise, a shaft cxtending lengthwise of the chute, a gear on said shaft, a motor for driving said gear, crank arms on said shaft, pusher arms pivotally connected to said crank arms and each having one end adapted to extend into said chute to push a log laterally out of said chute in one position of said crank arms and retractlble from said chute in another position of said crank arms, a manual switch for starting said motor to initiate a log electing operation. a switch adjacent said gear for reversing and Stopping said motor, means on said gear arranged to engage said last named switch to reverse said motor after said pusher arms have been extended into said chute to eject a log therefrom, and means on said gear to operate said switch to Stop said motor after reversal when said pusher arms have been retracted from said chute.

WALTER H. RATHERT. LEON WILSON. HOWARD L. MURRAY. CHARLES A. WILSON. DONALD W. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The lfollowing references are of record in the le of this patent:

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